Teachers plan to protest at Miller’s office

MUSKOKA – If Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller wasn’t clear on how local teachers feel about his support for the Liberal government’s Bill 115 he will be shortly. The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario Trillium Lakelands Elementary Teachers’ Local will be holding a rally at Miller’s office at 165 Manitoba Street in Bracebridge on Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 4 to 5 p.m. to protest Miller’s role in bringing the controversial bill to fruition.
Bill 115, the Putting Students First Act, was passed into law on Sept. 15 by the provincial Liberal government, with the support of Progressive Conservatives, including Miller. The legislation imposes wage and benefit cuts on teachers and other education sector workers and significantly restricts the group’s collective bargaining rights.
Trillium Lakelands teachers have been participating in legal strike action since Monday, Nov. 26, and the local hopes for a good turnout at the protest from across Muskoka. The group represents over 730 elementary public school teachers and education professionals in Muskoka, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton.
An earlier protest held Nov. 14 in Lindsay at the office of Laurie Scott, Progressive Conservative MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock drew a crowd of over 150.
“We had obviously our members the ETFO members, we had CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees), OSSTF (Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation) and we also had someone from the Lindsay and District Labour Council come and speak as well,” said Karen Bratina, vice-president of the Trillium Lakelands local.
Speakers at Wednesday’s protest in Bracebridge include Bratina, and Trillium Lakelands Occasional Teachers’ Local president Tracy Blodgett. MPP Miller has also been invited, though his attendance has not been confirmed.
“He hasn’t responded,” said Bratina. “He’s been invited both by telephone and letter.”
The group is also inviting anyone who would like to support the teachers to join them Wednesday in protest of Bill 115. Pamphlets will be handed out to anybody who wants to learn more about why the teachers are opposing the legislation.
The OPP and surrounding businesses have been notified of the protest, said Bratina, and added the protesters will not block the main street thoroughfare.
Changes in local teacher strike action are expected to be announced
today.
Check our website at cottagecountrynow.ca for updates.